World's best places to visit in 2016-17, according to U.S. News & World Report

Katia Hetter, CNN • Updated 28th June 2016

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(CNN) — With the largest coral reef ecosystem in the world, the Great Barrier Reef is one of seven natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's also the world's top travel destination, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2016-17 best destination rankings, released Tuesday.

"It's a once in a lifetime vacation, and it's been in the news recently because of coral bleaching," said Erin Shields, travel editor for U.S. News, in a statement. "Travelers need to see it soon because there might not be as much left."

When sea temperatures rise, tiny algae living in the corals, called zooxanthellae, are expelled, turning the coral white. The reef covers an area of 344,400 square kilometers and includes about 600 continental islands, 3,000 coral reefs and 150 inshore mangrove islands.